Sometimes we forget just how fragile a nest egg can be.
When the economy tanked in 2008, retirees watched in horror as U.S. markets suffered historic losses. The Dow declined by more than 50%, its biggest drop since the Great Depression of 1929.
The oldest Baby Boomers, who were closing in on retirement age just as things were at their worst, watched as their nest eggs cracked wide open and lost thousands of dollars – in some cases hundreds of thousands.
Most were left with two choices: Either keep working past the age they’d planned to retire (Boomers started turning 65 in 2011) or retire with a lifestyle that was substantially downsized from what they once had envisioned.
Under both scenarios, time was not on their side.
Pre-retirement is one of the worst times to experience significant market loss, because there is often little time left for recovery. You need that nest egg you accumulated to generate income when the paychecks stop. If it shrinks, so will the amount of income you’ll get.
That’s why financial professionals talk so much about volatility and why you should start pulling back from risk as you get older. The markets will always move up and down. And given today’s uncertainty — both domestic and worldwide — some loss seems almost unavoidable.
But there are distribution strategies that can help give you an edge in overcoming a loss.
For the average retiree, one way to help distribute retirement income is not by putting hope in the market, but by using an actuarial-designed product, such as an annuity. With an annuity, distribution amounts are, in large part, calculated based on your age and life expectancy; the older you are, the more you get paid.
Here’s an Example.
Let’s say a 70-year-old man who had a portfolio worth $500,000 expected to generate about 3% in retirement income – about $15,000 per year.
But then he suffered through a serious market downturn, and his $500,000 portfolio was reduced to $300,000. At that 3% withdrawal rate, his annual income would decline drastically. In order to replicate the $15,000 per year he planned to pull from his portfolio, he would need to invest aggressively – meaning more risk and a greater chance of losing even more money.
Now, instead, let’s say he purchased an annuity with an A+ rated carrier. With a deposit of $209,375, he could generate the $15,000 per year in lifetime income he’d originally planned on. His purchase would be converted into regular payments that would last as long he lives. His annuity would guarantee him a 7.2% return, which could help reduce his fear of running out of money in retirement.*
Using an annuity to distribute income is a way to overcome market losses — or to avoid them altogether. And it can offer you the confidence that you will be able to enjoy your well-earned retirement through protection of the principal and regular income streams.
It is important to remember annuities can have surrender charges and are not typically fully liquid for a set period of time. Additionally, annuities may have fees and can cap your ability to participate in market gains, even with products such as fixed index annuities. However, some retirees enjoy the comfort of the steady income and the protection benefits offered by annuities.
The Wealth Guardians are here to work with you to lock down what’s an appropriate product for you, and to review any changes to your goals or financial situation as you age
Our Custom Retirement Paycheck Plan shows how to protect your retirement from the risks of unexpected market swings, tax changes, and health care expenses using a mathematically tested strategy to create lifetime income allowing you to stop worrying about outliving your money and get on with enjoying the rest of your life.
Let us show you in black and white a custom retirement income plan that is comprehensive, individualized and based on strategies that balance growth with downside protection. Get your Custom Retirement Paycheck Plan now!
Give us a call at our Charlotte office at (704) 248-8549, or our Clemmons office at (336) 391-3409. Or, https://www.thewealthguardians.com/landing/?inf_contact_key=dd827bb4650f0bf88549d4f30e9761d8click here to request a no-cost, no-obligation meeting.
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Important Disclaimers:
*Annuity guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company.
These are hypothetical examples provided for illustrative purposes only; it does not represent a real-life scenario and should not be construed as advice designed to meet the particular needs of an individual’s situation.
Copyright © 2021 The Kiplinger Washington Editors. All rights reserved. Distributed by Financial Media Exchange.
